Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Singapore Sling Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 15, 2024

1990’s “Singapore Sling” offers a trip into madness, sold with a noir-ish approach. It’s an endeavor from writer/director Nikos Nikolaidis, and his fondness for the extreme and the surreal is fully on display in the movie, which tracks the efforts of a wounded detective hunting for his girlfriend, encountering pure insanity with two women who love to kill and engage in perverse sexual games. “Singapore Sling” is an experience, and clearly aimed at those willing to ride along with Nikolaidis, who has a specific idea for the feature, but seems to enjoy obscuring what viewers are meant to take away from this picture.

Shot in black and white, “Singapore Sling” is meant to evoke a detective tale of old, only here the suspects are lunatics who enjoy running their hands through the innards of their victims, masturbate with kiwi, and vomit on lovers. The film is a lot at times, but Nikolaidis doesn’t spray the screen with oddity. Instead, he takes his time with lunacy, creating a setting where several games of desire and torment are played, involving characters no longer connected to reality, preferring to experience a heightened sense of drama.

Singapore Sling Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative." "Singapore Sling" is a picture filled with textures, and the viewing experience does well with detail, exploring all the fine hairs, stickiness, and age the production delivers. Skin particulars are strong, exploring erotic and dramatic events with the actors. Costuming is also fibrous. Black and white cinematography is distinct. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Singapore Sling Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix deals with clear dialogue exchanges, with a few mild sibilance issues along the way. Performances are defined, along with atmospherics, which detail weather changes. Sound effects are distinct. Scoring supports with crisp instrumentation and dramatic emphasis.

Singapore Sling Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (18 pages) features an essay by film scholar David Church.

• Interview (11:39, HD) features producer Marie-Louise Bartholomew, wife of director Nikos Nikolaidis. Discussing the "great love" of her life, the interviewee walks through their various collaborations, becoming a trusted advisor for the helmer, growing closer as their time together intensified. Talk of "Singapore Sling" is offered, with the screenplay written in 1975, taking some time to reach production due to its shocking content. Financial history is revealed, with Nikolaidis working in commercials to fund his projects. The film festival journey of "Singapore Sling" is also recalled.

• Interview (5:23, HD) is a discussion of "Singapore Sling" with cinematographer Aris Stavrou, who isn't exactly patient with the process. The interviewee discusses the creative intent of the film's look, and his relationship with director Nikos Nikolaidis.

• Interview (9:06, HD) is a chat with actor Panos Thanassoulis, who shares his casting story, happy to participate in the project. Expecting a significant challenge, the interviewee was eager to experience the extremity of the writing. Thanassoulis details some elements of the production process, and reflects on the response to the film.

• Interview (12:22, HD) is an exploration of "Singapore Sling" with actress Michele Valley, who recalls her educational experience, eventually finding herself in Paris to investigate theater work. Meeting director Nikos Nikolaidis in 1985, Valley began a creative relationship with the helmer, leading to collaboration on "Singapore Sling." Language issues are highlighted, along with some memories from the shoot, finding Valley dealing with the pressures of intimate scenes.

• "Directing Hell" (80:47, SD) is a 2011 documentary on Nikos Nikolaidis, featuring interviews with creative collaborators and acquaintances. Also included is BTS footage of the subject in motion, overseeing work on his sets.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Singapore Sling Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Singapore Sling" isn't an easy sit, best suited for adventurous viewers willing to go along with Nikolaidis's vision for psychosis and unusual, often repellent eroticism. Rewards are few and far between in the film, but actress Meredyth Herold's ferocious commitment to the spiky material is something to see, and Nikolaidis manages to create mysterious moments on a low budget. He's not big on pace, limiting intended escalation, but the helmer is certainly invested in unreality and messiness in many forms.